Raleigh, N.C. — A new poll released on September 9, 2013, from NC-based Public Policy Polling (PPP) found that the vast majority of North Carolinians (73%) think employers should not be able to discriminate against gay and transgender workers, compared to just 16 percent who think they should be able to. Of those polled, 11% were undecided.

Regardless of party, opposition to discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity is high. Among Republicans polled, 59 percent think employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity should not be allowed versus only 32 percent who believe it should. Independents were the most likely to oppose this type of discrimination at 79% against, followed closely by Democrats at 78%.

Given the overwhelming opposition to employment discrimination against gay and transgender workers, most striking was that 85 percent of respondents identified as age 30 and over, showing steady support among older demographics for this important issue for the LGBT community in North Carolina.

PPP surveyed 600 North Carolina voters from September 6-9. The margin of error was +/- 4.0%. This poll was not authorized or paid for by any campaign or political organization. PPP’s surveys are conducted through automated telephone interviews.

Despite ongoing efforts by Equality NC and legislative allies to update statewide workplace policies in order to protect gay and transgender workers against discrimination, currently North Carolina workers can be legally fired for either being gay or transgender or being perceived as gay or transgender. North Carolina is one of 29 states with no employment non-discrimination law covering sexual orientation or gender identity.

"This latest poll sends a strong constituent message to state legislators: pass common sense updates to current state law that will finally protect hardworking gay and transgender North Carolinians from being fired simply because of who they are," said Chris Sgro, executive director of Equality NC. "Workplace fairness is not a regional, Republican, or Democratic idea. It has universal support in our state. Not only would these employment protections help ensure some of our best and brightest North Carolina workers can keep a roof over their heads and feed their families, but they would also help North Carolina be more competitive in our efforts to recruit and retain quality workers -- a fact we can no longer ignore."